Building new coop with old coop...what do i do with my hens till im finished?

I have an A-frame coop right now that I absolutly hate (I think the girls hate it too) that I want to replace with a new and improved coop. I want to build it in the same spot as the old one and In order to afford the new coop I will have to reuse some of the old coop materials. So basically I need to tear down the old coop before I can Build the new coop. I bought the plans for the Wichita Coop, I am a competent builder and I will have one other person helping me so I think we can get it done in a day, but if we can't I don't know what to for temporary sleeping accomodations for my hens. any suggestions?...besides the obvious check them into the Hilton Hen Hotel until the project is complete...

clehmberg said:

I have an A-frame coop right now that I absolutly hate (I think the girls hate it too) that I want to replace with a new and improved coop. I want to build it in the same spot as the old one and In order to afford the new coop I will have to reuse some of the old coop materials. So basically I need to tear down the old coop before I can Build the new coop. I bought the plans for the Wichita Coop, I am a competent builder and I will have one other person helping me so I think we can get it done in a day, but if we can't I don't know what to for temporary sleeping accomodations for my hens. any suggestions?...besides the obvious check them into the Hilton Hen Hotel until the project is complete...

Click to expand...

WELCOME TO BYC!!!

How many chickens do you have?
how many days to complete the housing part of the coop and how many days to complete the RUN area do you need?

I don't really have a time line...I'm not much of a planner. I have 5 hens, 3 are about a year old and 2 are about 8 months...I think I will be able to get most of the while thing done in a day...maybe 2...I'm planning on making the coop area a little bit bigger in case I want to get more hens in the future.

clehmberg said:

I don't really have a time line...I'm not much of a planner. I have 5 hens, 3 are about a year old and 2 are about 8 months...I think I will be able to get most of the while thing done in a day...maybe 2...I'm planning on making the coop area a little bit bigger in case I want to get more hens in the future.

Click to expand...

You should be able to just run a ring of wire around in the yard and put a sheet or plastic tarp over it while you work, and if you dont finish put them in a dog crate to over night them?

I don’t know your weather or what your current run looks like, how predator proof it is, or how it fits into your construction project, assuming you have a run. For hens that age weather should not be a problem unless you have something really freak going on like that hurricane. It’s the predators I’d be concerned about. With the Wichita coop the run is basically incorporated into the coop so I think you are looking at something totally separate to house them.

Sally’s idea isn’t bad if you have a dog crate. Those can be expensive.

If you have a garage or outbuilding that is predator proof, build a pen out of cheap chicken wire and use cardboard for a floor so you can just toss or burn the cardboard afterwards. You are containing the chicken and their poop, the building takes care of predators.

I like the idea of a second “coop”, someplace you can isolate a chicken if you wish, which I often do. It doesn’t have to be huge and build it mostly out of wire to keep costs down. If it will fit inside your larger coop or you can incorporate it in your design so they are connected, even better. With the Wichita it’s unlikely you can hang it off the wall of the coop internally so the far end of the run is probably better. Cover it with a tarp initially for weather protection but as money or materials become available add a permanent cover, top and sides. Of course it would have to be built predator-proof to start with if it is outside. That costs more.

If you elevate it and use a wire floor, you have a broody buster. If you have electricity down there you can use it as a brooder, just put cardboard on the floor to keep heat in. If you want to isolate a broody hen so she can hatch chicks, you have a place ready, again use a cardboard floor. If you want to isolate an injured chicken you are good to go. Since it is next to the other chickens it is not a good place to quarantine or isolate a sick chicken. It would be great to house later additions to the flock for a week or so to help with integration as long as they can see each other.

This is probably more than you want to spend plus it could make your new coop less pretty, but the flexibility this gives you in tremendous if you need it, like you need it now. Just something to think about.

Good luck on the new build.